Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography/Hale, Benjamin

HALE, Benjamin, educator, b. in Newburvport, Mass., 23 Nov., 1797; d. there, 15 July, 1863. lie was graduated at Bowdoin in 1818, studied theology at Andover, and in 1822 was licensed to preach as a Congregationalist. In 1823 he became tutor in Bowdoin, but subsequently established the Gardiner lyceum, of which he became principal. From 1827 till 1835 (when his chair was abolished) he was professor of chemistry and mineralogy at Dartmouth, and aided in the foundation of its geological and mineralogical cabinet. Meantime, he took orders in the Protestant Episcopal church. The winter of 1835-'6 he spent in St. Croix, W. I., for his health. In 1836. he became president of Hobart college, Geneva, N. Y., and held the office till feeble health compelled him to resign on 19 Jan., 1858, when he returned to his native town. He published "Introduction to the Mechanical Principles of Carpentry" (Boston, 1827) and "Scriptural Illustrations of the Liturgy" (1835).